[105th Congress Public Law 363]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
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[DOCID: f:publ363.105]
[[Page 3295]]
WEIR FARM NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE VISITOR AND ADMINISTRATIVE FACILITIES
[[Page 112 STAT. 3296]]
Public Law 105-363
105th Congress
An Act
To amend the Weir Farm National Historic Site Establishment Act of 1990
to authorize the acquisition of additional acreage for the historic site
to permit the development of visitor and administrative facilities and
to authorize the appropriation of additional amounts for the acquisition
of real and personal property, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Nov. 10,
1998 - [S. 1718]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. WEIR FARM NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, CONNECTICUT.
(a) Acquisition of Land for Visitor and Administrative Facilities.--
Section 4 of the Weir Farm National Historic Site Establishment Act of
1990 (16 U.S.C. 461 note; Public Law 101-485; 104 Stat. 1171) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Acquisition of Land for Visitor and Administrative Facilities;
Limitations.--
``(1) Acquisition.--
``(A) In general.--To preserve and maintain the
historic setting and character of the historic site, the
Secretary may acquire not more than 15 additional acres
for the development of visitor and administrative
facilities for the historic site.
``(B) Proximity.--The property acquired under this
subsection shall be contiguous to or in close proximity
to the property described in subsection (b).
``(C) Management.--The acquired property shall be
included within the boundary of the historic site and
shall be managed and maintained as part of the historic
site.
``(2) Development.--The Secretary shall keep development of
the property acquired under paragraph (1) to a minimum so that
the character of the acquired property will be similar to the
natural and undeveloped landscape of the property described in
subsection (b).
``(3) Agreements.--Prior to and as a prerequisite to any
development of visitor and administrative facilities on the
property acquired under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall enter
into one or more agreements with the appropriate zoning
authority of the town of Ridgefield, Connecticut, and the town
of Wilton, Connecticut, for the purposes of--
``(A) developing the parking, visitor, and
administrative facilities for the historic site; and
``(B) managing bus traffic to the historic site and
limiting parking for large tour buses to an offsite
location.''.
(b) Increase in Maximum Acquisition Authority.--Section 7 of the
Weir Farm National Historic Site Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C.
[[Page 112 STAT. 3297]]
461 note; Public Law 101-485; 104 Stat. 1173) is amended by striking
``$1,500,000'' and inserting ``$4,000,000''.
SEC. 2. ACQUISITION AND MANAGEMENT OF WILCOX RANCH, UTAH, FOR
WILDLIFE HABITAT.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The lands within the Wilcox Ranch in eastern Utah are
prime habitat for wild turkeys, eagles, hawks, bears, cougars,
elk, deer, bighorn sheep, and many other important species, and
Range Creek within the Wilcox Ranch could become a blue ribbon
trout stream.
(2) These lands also contain a great deal of undisturbed
cultural and archeological resources, including ancient pottery,
arrowheads, and rock homes constructed centuries ago.
(3) These lands, while comprising only approximately 3,800
acres, control access to over 75,000 acres of Federal lands
under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management.
(4) Acquisition of the Wilcox Ranch would benefit the people
of the United States by preserving and enhancing important
wildlife habitat, ensuring access to lands of the Bureau of Land
Management, and protecting priceless archeological and cultural
resources.
(5) These lands, if acquired by the United States, can be
managed by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources at no
additional expense to the Federal Government.
(b) Acquisition of Lands.--As soon as practicable, after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall acquire,
through purchase, the Wilcox Ranch located in Emery County, in eastern
Utah.
(c) Funds for Purchase.--The Secretary of the Interior is authorized
to use not more than $5,000,000 from the land and water conservation
fund established under section 2 of the Land and Water Conservation Fund
Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l-5) for the purchase of the Wilcox Ranch
under subsection (b).
(d) Management of Lands.--Upon payment by the State of Utah of one-
half of the purchase price of the Wilcox Ranch to the United States, or
transfer by the State of Utah of lands of the same such value to the
United States, the Secretary of the Interior shall transfer to the State
of Utah all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to
those Wilcox Ranch lands acquired under subsection (b) for management by
the State Division of Wildlife Resources for wildlife habitat and public
access.
SEC. 3. LAND CONVEYANCE, YAVAPAI COUNTY, ARIZONA.
(a) Conveyance Required.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the Secretary of the Interior shall convey, without consideration
and for educational related purposes, to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University, Florida, a nonprofit corporation authorized to do business
in the State of Arizona, all right, title, and interest of the United
States, if any, to a parcel of real property consisting of approximately
16 acres in Yavapai County, Arizona, which is more fully described as
the parcel lying east of the east right-of-way boundary of the Willow
Creek Road in the southwest one-quarter of the southwest one-quarter
(SW\1/4\SW\1/4\) of section 2, township 14 north, range 2 west, Gila and
Salt River meridian.
(b) Terms of Conveyance.--Subject to the limitation that the land to
be conveyed is to be used only for educational related purposes, the
conveyance under subsection (a) is to be made without
[[Page 112 STAT. 3298]]
any other conditions, limitations, reservations, restrictions, or terms
by the United States. If the Secretary of the Interior determines that
the conveyed lands are not being used for educational related purposes,
at the option of the United States, the lands shall revert to the United
States.
SEC. 4. <<NOTE: 16 USC 47-1 note.>> LAND EXCHANGE, EL PORTAL
ADMINISTRATIVE SITE, CALIFORNIA.
(a) Authorization of Exchange.--If the non-Federal lands described
in subsection (b) are conveyed to the United States in accordance with
this section, the Secretary of the Interior shall convey to the party
conveying the non-Federal lands all right, title, and interest of the
United States in and to a parcel of land consisting of approximately 8
acres administered by the Department of Interior as part of the El
Portal Administrative Site in the State of California, as generally
depicted on the map entitled ``El Portal Administrative Site Land
Exchange'', dated June 1998.
(b) Receipt of Non-Federal Lands.--The parcel of non-Federal lands
referred to in subsection (a) consists of approximately 8 acres, known
as the Yosemite View parcel, which is located adjacent to the El Portal
Administrative Site, as generally depicted on the map referred to in
subsection (a). Title to the non-Federal lands must be acceptable to the
Secretary of the Interior, and the conveyance shall be subject to such
valid existing rights of record as may be acceptable to the Secretary.
The parcel shall conform with the title approval standards applicable to
Federal land acquisitions.
(c) Equalization of Values.--If the value of the Federal land and
non-Federal lands to be exchanged under this section are not equal in
value, the difference in value shall be equalized through a cash payment
or the provision of goods or services as agreed upon by the Secretary
and the party conveying the non-Federal lands.
(d) Applicability of Other Laws.--Except as otherwise provided in
this section, the Secretary of the Interior shall process the land
exchange authorized by this section in the manner provided in part 2200
of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of
the enactment of this subtitle.
(e) Boundary Adjustment.--Upon completion of the land exchange, the
Secretary shall adjust the boundaries of the El Portal Administrative
Site as necessary to reflect the exchange. Lands acquired by the
Secretary under this section shall be administered as part of the El
Portal Administrative Site.
(f) Map.--The map referred to in subsection (a) shall be on file and
available for inspection in appropriate offices of the Department of the
Interior.
[[Page 112 STAT. 3299]]
(g) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary of the Interior
may require such additional terms and conditions in connection with the
land exchange under this section as the Secretary considers appropriate
to protect the interests of the United States.
Approved November 10, 1998.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 1718:
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SENATE REPORTS: No. 105-328 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 144 (1998):
Oct. 2, considered and passed Senate.
Oct. 10, considered and passed House, amended.
Oct. 14, Senate concurred in House amendment.
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